Robert Conway Is A Jerk

January 29th, 200721 Comments

Today I got an asinine email message from Robert Conway:

Ryan,

You are currently in violation of Google’s Terms of Service by displaying images next to AdSense blocks. You also label a 300×250 Medium Square Box with the label: “Related Content” which is a violation of the ToS that you have agreed to in displaying the ads.
http://adsense.blogspot.com/2006/12/ad-and-image-placement-policy.html

I would suggest getting those pictures down, ASAP. Hope that link helps- It is the Adsense Blog from Google themselves.

I will give you 48 hours to correct these violations before reporting your site through the Google Adsense/Webmaster Group. Thank you for your compliance.

Doing my best to clean up “made for AdSense sites”,

Rob

Notice that at the end of the message, Rob accuses College Startup of being an MFA site. That’s a load of bullshit. I do experiment with AdSense on the site, but I make literally pennies off the site each month. College Startup is actually a labor of love. In the end, I really make no money off it when you consider domain name costs, hosting, etc.

But that’s not even the point. If Rob Conway really wants to clean up “made for AdSense sites” then why the hell doesn’t he target real MFAs rather than legit sites like College Startup.

I’m fuming right now…

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Robert Conway Is A Jerk

Noah Winecoff | January 29, 2007

Thats some bull. I’d be pissed too. Who is this guy?

Ryan | January 29, 2007

I have no freakin clue who he is, but here’s the message I sent back to him:

So then why don’t you actually target MFA sites rather than legit sites like my own? Sure, I wasn’t aware that my site was in violation, but for God’s sake, why accuse my site of being MFA when there are millions of real MFAs out there?

Get a freakin’ life and if you’re going on some crusade, pick the right enemy.

David Krug | January 29, 2007

I just think its funny he takes the time to write an email like this. I mean what a moron. Personally I think you gave him to much credit by even mentioning him.

Ryan | January 29, 2007

You know, come to think of it, the only way I make money on this site is through consulting. So how does Mr. Conway explain the fact that people come to me asking for advice if my site is MFA?

Jerkhole.

keesj | January 29, 2007

Actually I think he does have a point about at least one thing. A lot of people adhere to the ToS however College Startup didn’t. And when people violate the ToS the non-violators get penalized too.

Although I don’t understand the MFA-accusement I do think it was nice of him to send you a mail first instead of contacting Google right away.

Also, I don’t think it’s fair to call names and display his full name like this. He was just upset about this violation just like you’re upset about his email. However, he kindly emailed you but you called him a jerkhole right-away.

Miha | January 29, 2007

Robert is probably some 11 years old jealous kid from next door. Fu** him.

Ryan | January 29, 2007

keesj,
The fact of the matter is that I didn’t know I was violating the TOS. I’m glad to have been notified about that. So, you are right, for that I am thankful to Robert Conway. However, I still stand by my title that Robert Conway is a jerk.

Not only did he threaten me, but he also referred to my site as MFA. That’s an insult leveled at the hard work I’ve put into this site. What makes things worse is that this wasn’t a form letter, it was intentionally targeted at me.

So he’s on a crusade to against MFA? Then take the crusade to the real MFA sites.

Ryan | January 29, 2007

Anyone want to make bets on whether keesj is Robert Conway?

Ryan | January 29, 2007

I just had a thought. For reasons I assume are associated with Google’s trust of College Startup, our content gets indexed very quickly and very highly. Wouldn’t it be cool if we showed up on the front page for “Robert Conway” - regardless of whether that’s the dude’s real name. It would go to show that you shouldn’t play games with a trusted site and accuse them of intentional (MFA is intentional after all) spam.

keesj | January 29, 2007

I’ll take that bet ;)

I agree with you the email was a bit “aggressive” and perhaps could be a bit more polite. However, please remember not everybody is a native English speaker (I’m not myself) so perhaps he didn’t meant to look like a jerk like you call him.

I can understand he thought you wouldn’t take action if he didn’t added the 48 hours stuff, I don’t see MFA guys take action. And that was what he thought you were, someone who makes money of MFA sites. Of-course you don’t, but he thought so. And that’s why he acted like he did.

Anyway, I think at least you could wait for his reaction before calling names. Be aware you have quite some power with a popular blog like this and IMO you should at least give this guy a chance to respond before using this power.

Ryan | January 29, 2007

Keesj. Understood. You make some decent points. I hope you understand where I’m coming from.

It would be like an artist who had worked months on a painting only to be accused of being a copyfraud when he knows he didn’t do any such thing.

It’s demeaning to be accused of being MFA.

keesj | January 29, 2007

Nice to hear you somewhat agree with me. I fully understand you didn’t like his tone/message, but like I said, I don’t think it’s fair to expose his full name like this before receiving a reply.

I suggest using something like “Robert Conway Is Maybe A Jerk” untill you get a reply :). But of-course, it’s your blog :).

keesj | January 29, 2007

Hmm.. I didn’t expect those smileys to look the way the do.

Mike | January 29, 2007

The thing that surprises me the most is that you didn’t know the images were a violation now. It seems like everybody was talking about that a few weeks back.

It seems like if I were you, I would be annoyed by the tone, but happy that somebody told you about the images next to ads policy change.

Stay positive.

Rob | January 30, 2007

I think you are overreacting here. The guy sent you an email. He could straight report you but he chose to give you a chance to correct things.

You clearly violated the AdSense policy, you admit it yourself. You labeled Google AdSense with Related Content and you were displaying images next to the AdSense. I would expect that you know these kind of things if you do the consulting work.

Honestly, I would be thankful to this guy. (and no, I’m not him, you can take a bet ;))

Nate W. | January 31, 2007

I think you have a great blog, excellent writing, and effective ideas, but you need to chill out on the Google thing. Google is someone who you probably get a lot of hits from, so it is never a good idea to try to talk back to them. One other thing Google might get pissed about is on your sidebar, under “Our Partners,” having Adsense under there is misleading and going to get you in trouble. Keep up the great posts and awesome ideas, but please do not make bad karma with Google.

Nate W. | January 31, 2007

One other thing… who cares is Robert Conway possibly implied your site is MFA. He does not read your site. If he did, maybe he would have figured out its not. The point is that your readers value your site and that is all that matters.

HART (1-800-HART) | January 31, 2007

That is a bit insulting, calling this a “made for adsense” site .. but, who is Robert Conway?

I know myself, as one also trying to monetize to cover some basic online costs .. rules are still rules and I cringe at sites like.. // offhand all I can think of is .JOAB ..// who are in violation of the terms.

But, it’s easy to overlook that type of stuff. Once I just changed templates and it seemed to fit better so I ended up changing my site from showing 3 posts per page back to 10 post. I received the letter directly from google reminding me how many “pub-”’s were showing on my view page and at risk. I would have preferred a tip from a reader at the time - scared the hell out of me for that oversite and risk.

HART-Empire.com » My Google Adsense Earnings Review (HART-EMPIRE NETWORK) | February 1, 2007

[…] I was browsing my Bloglines in the wee hours last Monday morning when I read the term “Made For Adsense” .. as referred by some jerk named Robert Conway’s post over at Ryan’s College-Startup blog. Now, if you don’t have that blog in your Bloglines, I suggest you add it right now - because, that blog is NOT one of those “Made For Adsense” sites! […]

Ryan | February 2, 2007

Just as I expected. Robert Conway the MFA crusader is officially immortalized by College Startup on the front page of Google.

Robert Conway | September 30, 2007

Wow, imagine my surprise to Google myself and turn this up. I’m a Robert Conway. Not THE Robert Conway the jerk who emailed you… just some guy named Robert Conway… who happens to own the domain name RobertConway.com.

So on behalf of all Robert Conways everywhere (there are more than one of us, of course) I apologize to you for the heavy handed approach with which you were treated.

Sheesh… the guy gives me a bad name!

Best wishes,

Another Robert Conway

Share your thoughts!!!

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Robert Conway Is A Jerk was written by Ryan on January 29th, 2007 at 10:53 am and posted in Content

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